Manuel Almunia's error gifted Bolton a third straight win as Watford suffered their third consecutive home defeat.

The decisive moment came on 27 minutes when Almunia dropped a Neil Danns cross beneath his legs and Jermaine Beckford converted from close range.

Hornets goalkeeper Almunia failed to reappear for the second half.

Watford had chances to level but Bolton also threatened and Danns was denied by a sharp save from substitute Hornets keeper Jonathan Bond.

Dougie Freedman's side rise to 15th in the Championship table, while Watford drop to 10th.

Unhappy at home

Watford are without a home victory in the Championship since beating Wigan on 28 September

Both sides created early openings but it was Bolton who made the breakthrough thanks to Almunia's mistake.

Any danger seemed to have been dealt with when the Spaniard bent down to gather a low Danns cross from the right. But, having got the ball within his grasp, the former Arsenal keeper let it squirm loose through his legs and Beckford gleefully capitalised.

Watford worked hard to recover, George Thorne shooting over before Nyron Nosworthy hit an acrobatic half-volley narrowly off target and Fernando Forestieri curled an effort wide.

Almunia was replaced in goal by Bond, who made his England Under-21 debut in midweek, and Hornets boss Gianfranco Zola introduced Diego Fabbrini soon after as he switched to a more attacking formation.

Bolton keeper Andy Lonergan saved well from Forestieri before Chung-Yong Lee missed the target at the other end with a lob when clean through.

And the visitors came close to doubling their lead when Danns capitalised on a slip from Daniel Pudil, but Bond was equal to his left-footed shot.

Danns had another opportunity with two minutes remaining but his strike from the right-hand side of the area was deflected over.

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Watford boss Gianfranco Zola on Bolton defeat

Watford manager Gianfranco Zola told BBC Three Counties Radio:

"It's been a long week after picking up a lot of injuries and to concede a goal like that was tough.

"We didn't create enough and Bolton are a good side that are in good form.

"There was too much of just passing the ball around when they had everyone behind the ball.

"We have to be better and get the ball wide more but it was tough today."

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Post-match: Bolton boss Freedman

Bolton boss Dougie Freedman:

"You go along through a season hoping to pick up two or three of the little opportunistic goals where it drops for you and Jermaine Beckford is the master at that - that's why I brought him to the club and he's won us the game.

"The two goalkeepers dropped the ball but I felt we had a player that was on form and he smacked it in the net.

"But, apart from that, I felt we controlled the game out of possession in the second half and controlled the way they played and I felt we deserved to win because of that."

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